Minister for Agriculture Production and Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Departments, Javed Ahmad Dar, expressed gratitude to the farming community of Jammu and Kashmir for their dedication to agriculture and allied sectors.

He lauded their pivotal role in making agriculture a cornerstone of the region’s economy and cultural heritage while speaking at an event organised to commemorate the National Farmers Day 2024.

Addressing at the event, the Minister stated, “we celebrate the remarkable contributions of our farmers, who continue to uphold and sustain Jammu and Kashmir’s rich agricultural legacy on this auspicious occasion.”

He highlighted the region’s globally acclaimed produce, saying, “from the world-famous saffron of Pampore to the premium Basmati rice of Jammu, from organic walnuts to the finest apples of Kashmir Valley, our farmers make us proud on both national and international platforms.”

Detailing government initiatives to uplift the farming community, the Minister emphasized the Holistic Agricultural Development Program (HADP), a comprehensive initiative with a Rs 5,013 crore outlay over five years. The program aims to nearly double agricultural output to Rs 65,700 crore annually, create 2.8 lakh jobs, establish 19,000 enterprises and train 2.5 lakh individuals in modern farming practices.

In addition to these measures, the government has established 500 Kisan Khidmat Ghars (KKGs) as one-stop support centers for farmers, with plans to expand the number to 1,500. Outreach efforts under the Kisan Sampark Abhiyan are also being scaled up to connect with the farming community more effectively, stated the Minister.

The Minister also outlined the Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP), a Rs 1,800 crore initiative focusing on climate-smart farming, agribusiness development and support for vulnerable farming communities. Together with HADP, these initiatives bring a combined budget of Rs 6,813 crore, which is set to revolutionize agriculture and allied sectors in the region.

“The government is further providing direct financial support to small and marginal farmers under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, ensuring economic stability for this key segment of the population. To enhance farmers’ income, the Integrated Dairy Development Scheme (IDDS) is promoting dairy farming as a supplementary livelihood. Moreover, the introduction of high-yield apple varieties aims to significantly boost productivity and profitability for orchardists, maintained the Minister.”

The Minister added that efforts to improve irrigation in rain fed areas have been intensified with the approval of 200 borewells under NABARD funding. In another significant step, establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Precision Vegetable and Floriculture Farming has been initiated with an investment of Rs 592 lakh to advance farming techniques, he said.

He said that the government has prioritized agri-horticulture-animal husbandry projects for NABARD funding and announced a 50.8% budget increase for the horticulture sector in the 2025-26 financial year. Additionally, the approval of a Rs 30,891.3 lakh agriculture sector budget for FY 2025 underscores the administration’s commitment to growth and sustainability in the sector, he added.

The Minister reiterated the government’s focus on enhancing irrigation systems, improving market access and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

“We remain steadfast in our resolve to make agriculture a profitable and sustainable livelihood for the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he asserted.

Concluding his address, the Minister delivered an inspiring message to farmers “Together, we will continue to strengthen the backbone of our economy and work towards a future of prosperity, sustainability and growth for our farming community.”